Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 16 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Modesto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($241,600 vs $381,800)
59% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $12,568 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Aurora by $12,568/yr
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$12,568
$85,943 vs $73,375/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
59% lower
266.0 vs 655.7 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$140k less
$241,600 vs $381,800
Aurora
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 26.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 16 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 16 and Modesto wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Aurora to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $381,800 median home), income ($85,943 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Modesto, CA are about 1,751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.